Lebron will win like 3 or 4 championships.

[MBunge]

They've killed themselves with their nutty idea of putting 4-5 6'8" guys on the floor and signing guys like Mike Miller and Shane Battier instead of addressing their weakness at PG and C. 

Some people noticed that problem from the very beginning, only to be told that the magical powers of Bron, Wade and Bosh made such things irrelevent.

Mike

[indeedproceed]

They've killed themselves with their nutty idea of putting 4-5 6'8" guys on the floor and signing guys like Mike Miller and Shane Battier instead of addressing their weakness at PG and C. 

Some people noticed that problem from the very beginning, only to be told that the magical powers of Bron, Wade and Bosh made such things irrelevent.

Mike

1 Finals appearance later, and it was proven mostly irrelevant. They're still currently better than 29 other NBA teams, and since Dallas is out of the playoffs, means 30.

[Moranis]

They've killed themselves with their nutty idea of putting 4-5 6'8" guys on the floor and signing guys like Mike Miller and Shane Battier instead of addressing their weakness at PG and C. 

Some people noticed that problem from the very beginning, only to be told that the magical powers of Bron, Wade and Bosh made such things irrelevent.

Mike

1 Finals appearance later, and it was proven mostly irrelevant. They're still currently better than 29 other NBA teams, and since Dallas is out of the playoffs, means 30.

Yeah I don't really get where these ideas in this thread are coming from. 

And let's not kid ourselves here, the Celtics won a title with Kendrick Perkins as the starting center and the Lakers won the two after that with Derek Fisher as their starting PG.  As long as you have one great big man and one great wing, you can win a title if the rest of the team comes together.  Now sure it would be awesome if your team had HOFers at every position and HOFers on the bench, but that generation is gone.  If you have two HOFers (in their prime) on your team, then you are doing pretty darn good in today's game, and the Heat have two HOFer's (and if they get Bosh back, will add a multiple time all star) in their prime. 

[Finkelskyhook]

But when does that "too good" happen?  It is not like he is a rookie, or a second or third year guy (see Durant, Kevin).  Lebron has been in the league for 8 years, and is at his prime age right now (27).  So, you would think this would happen now - he is seasoned and primed.

But is anyone here guaranteeing a Miami championship this year? Or next?

Let's say they don't win...next season he's now going on 28-29.  9 seasons in the league.  And no major injuries to speak of, yet.  Getting close to 30.  He's not going to last forever, particularly with a game that relies so much on speed and power.

Jordan was 27 and in his 7th year when the Bulls first won the title.  He seemed to be fine for the next 8 years (though he took two off in the middle). 

Lebron is not Jordan.

The reality is that in Jordan's era....Only Jordan got preferential treatment from the officials.

While the messiah is virtually official-proof, there is a whole host of players...Including our own Paul Pierce, that get treatment similar to what Jordan did back then.  The officiating also tightens up a bit in the playoffs now.  Jordan got the same treatment...or non-treatment from the officials in every game he played once Stern declared him the original messiah.

Jordan clearly had more of a will to win than the messiah does...But I'll venture a pretty safe guess that even the messiah, in the playoffs, wouldn't get away with the ridiculous routine overt hacks and the pushoff right in front of the officials that Jordan used to win the Utah series.

[Celtics4ever]

I predict a choke at some point.   Even if he wins one at this point it's because he went to get Wade to finish for him.  Not as good legacy to have.

I think we can beat them with them without Bosh.   Won't be easy to do but it is feasible.  The officials abandoned MIA in the finals last year.   Just start emailing the league about the star calls and start it now.   Send 5-10 emails.

[SHAQATTACK]

The Cheat have no chance aginst a "REAL" basketball team like the Spurs. 2 against 12... The Cheaters would be lucky to win a game.

The Spurs are everything the Heat thugs are not....

Heat aren't doing it this year.

So Lebricks headban willjust have to creep up another 3 inchs next year....

BEAT THE HEAT !!!

[JSD]

Deep down we all know it. He's just too good not to.

And this year he gets his first ring. Not because he's a closer. Not because he has heart. Not because he's a competitor.

[Celtics4ever]

AS long as his highness has refs he has a shot at a championship.  I would bet that OKC wins more than he does though.  I would take Durant over James.   He got away with a foul last night.  Refs and a different set of rules really put all that athletic ability over the top.

[Jon]

Well, people were saying similar things about Grant Hill (and to some extent Tracy McGrady and Penny Hardaway) at times.  And then look what happened. 

You can't say anything is set in stone. 

[chambers]

He's very lucky that Chicago didn't have Rose this year.
Even if Noah hadn't gone down they'd have had a tough time getting past them (let alone us).

I think they get more solid role players like Battier at different positions who wanna win a ring, but teams like Chicago, OKC, Memphis, New York all get better.

This year may be there best shot considering the injuries everyone endured.
Once Rose is back in the East the game changes completely-Chicago are going to do something to get him more help, probably in the form of someone like Gasol.
Who knows what will happen with Dwight Howard+D Will and the Nets.

If they don't win this year they may never win one.

[Moranis]

AS long as his highness has refs he has a shot at a championship.  I would bet that OKC wins more than he does though.  I would take Durant over James.   He got away with a foul last night.  Refs and a different set of rules really put all that athletic ability over the top.

And Durant committed a charge and shouldn't have even been in the game for that play.  The refs could call a foul on every possession.  I'm glad they don't. 

Lebron James is better than Kevin Durant, and it isn't close right now.  Sure five years from now it probably will be different, but I'm not ready to even put Durant in the discussion until he passes, rebounds, and defends on a level that is at least close to James.  Right now Durant is no where near the all around player that James is.

[TripleOT]

Lebron James is better than Kevin Durant, and it isn't close right now.  Sure five years from now it probably will be different, but I'm not ready to even put Durant in the discussion until he passes, rebounds, and defends on a level that is at least close to James.  Right now Durant is no where near the all around player that James is.

Durant is the leading rebounder at the SF position in the league?  How can you say that he's not at LeBron's level as a rebounder?

Durant is a better rebounder and scorer, and is a way better shooter.  He's also a better crunch time guy.  LeBron is a way better passer and a much better defender, although Durant is coming along in both areas.   

[manl_lui]

I have a feeling the NBA will turn Miami and Thunder into another Celtics vs Lakers rivalry. Lebron and Durant will be like Bird and Magic. I won't be surprised if the next 10 years will be mostly Thunder vs Miami and maybe slip in a team here and there, but at least 8 champs will be split between those 2 teams. I mean it makes sense too, imagine all the marketing and TV ratings

[guava_wrench]

AS long as his highness has refs he has a shot at a championship.  I would bet that OKC wins more than he does though.  I would take Durant over James.   He got away with a foul last night.  Refs and a different set of rules really put all that athletic ability over the top.

And Durant committed a charge and shouldn't have even been in the game for that play.  The refs could call a foul on every possession.  I'm glad they don't. 

Lebron James is better than Kevin Durant, and it isn't close right now.  Sure five years from now it probably will be different, but I'm not ready to even put Durant in the discussion until he passes, rebounds, and defends on a level that is at least close to James.  Right now Durant is no where near the all around player that James is.

Impossible! Only Lebron benefits from missed calls!

[Gregory0]

Thanks for sharing.